Editing Arlington National Cemetery (section)

====2010 mismanagement controversy====
{{main|Arlington National Cemetery mismanagement controversy}}
On 9 June 2010, United States Secretary of the Army [[John M. McHugh]] reprimanded the cemetery's superintendent, John C. Metzler, Jr., and his deputy, Thurman Higgenbotham, after a [[Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense|DOD inspector general]]'s report revealed that cemetery officials had placed the wrong headstones on tombs, buried coffins in shallow graves, and buried bodies on top of one another. Metzler, who had already announced his intention to retire, admitted some mistakes had been made but denied allegations of widespread or serious mismanagement.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-11-la-na-arlington-cemetery-20100611-story.html| author=Julian E. Barnes| title=Arlington National Cemetery's top supervisors ousted in mismanagement case| work=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date=June 11, 2010| access-date=July 29, 2011| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111122056/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/11/nation/la-na-arlington-cemetery-20100611| archive-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref> The investigation also found that cemetery employees were burdened in their day-to-day work by "dysfunctional management, lack of established policy and procedures, and an overall unhealthy organizational climate."<ref>{{cite news| author=William H. McMichael| title= Errors at Arlington affected 211 graves| url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/06/military_arlington_cemetery_061010w| work=[[Army Times]] |date=June 10, 2010| access-date=July 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Arlington Cemetery superintendent retiring| author=[[Associated Press]]| work=Army Times| date=June 9, 2010| url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/06/ap_arlington_cemetery_060910w| access-date=July 29, 2011}}</ref> Both Metzler and Higgenbotham retired soon after the investigation commenced.<ref>{{cite news| author=Aaron C. Davis| title=Arlington Cemetery's Deputy Chief Retires Amid Investigation| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=July 14, 2010| page=B1| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071306344.html| access-date=July 29, 2011| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131133446/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071306344.html| archive-date=January 31, 2011}}</ref>

In March 2011, as a result of the problems discovered, Kathryn Condon, the recently appointed executive director of the Army National Military Cemeteries, announced that the cemetery's staff had been increased from 102 to 159. She added that the cemetery was also acquiring additional equipment because, "They didn't have the proper equipment to do the job really to the standard they needed to do."<ref>{{cite news| author=Christian Davenport| title=For first time in decades, Arlington National Cemetery must bury multiple 'unknowns'| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/06/AR2011030603633.html| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=March 7, 2011| page=1| access-date=July 29, 2011| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602081704/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/06/AR2011030603633.html| archive-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref>

The mismanagement controversy included a limitation on mass media access to funerals, which also proved controversial. Until 2005, the cemetery's administration gave free access, with the family's permission, to the press to cover funerals at the cemetery. In July 2008, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that the cemetery had imposed gradually increasing restrictions on media coverage of funerals beginning three years earlier, in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dana Milbank |date=10 July 2008 |title=Putting Her Foot Down And Getting The Boot |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902169.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034316/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902169.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=29 July 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=3}}</ref>

After the cemetery's management controversy began to end, the Army appointed Patrick K. Hallinan the acting superintendent of the cemetery in June 2010. He was promoted permanently to the position in October 2010. Hallinan had previously worked for the Office of Field Programs in the National Cemetery Administration, an agency of the [[United States Department of Veterans' Affairs]]. In that capacity, Hallinan had oversight of 131 national cemeteries, national cemetery policy, procedures, and operations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.army.mil/article/46846/|title=Army names new superintendent for Arlington National Cemetery|work=Army News Service|date=October 20, 2010|access-date=August 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232014/http://www.army.mil/article/46846/ |archive-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref> Hallinan was promoted to executive director of the Army National Military Cemeteries upon the retirement of Kathryn Condon in spring 2014.<ref name="lechnerappointed"/>

In May 2014, Hallinan stepped down and was replaced by Jack E. Lechner, Jr. as superintendent of the cemetery. Lechner had been a [[funeral director]] for 10 years in the private sector before joining the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of colonel, and retired in November 2011 after having spent 2008 to 2010 as chief of the Supply Division of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], overseeing the equipping security forces in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. Since 2010, he served as executive officer and deputy superintendent of the cemetery under Hallinan.<ref name="lechnerappointed">{{cite news|url=http://nfda.org/government-relations-/current-funeral-service-issues/3974-lechner-named-superintendent-of-arlington-national-cemetery.html|title=Lechner Named Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery|work=Memorial Business Journal|date=May 29, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2015|archive-date=August 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829002700/http://nfda.org/government-relations-/current-funeral-service-issues/3974-lechner-named-superintendent-of-arlington-national-cemetery.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2008, environmentalists expressed concerns that the agreement would result in the partial destruction of the {{convert|24|acre|adj=on}} remnant of a historically important stand of native trees.<ref name="Gearan"/> A historical marker near the woodland notes that, while visiting Arlington House in 1825, [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]], the French volunteer to the [[Continental Army]] who ultimately became one of [[George Washington]]'s long-standing friends, warned [[Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis]], wife of [[George Washington Parke Custis]], "Cherish these forest trees around your mansion. Recollect how much easier it is to cut a tree than to make one grow." The marker notes that the Virginia Native Plant Society recognized the woodland as being one of the best examples of old growth terraced gravel forest remaining in Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223093521/http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=11750 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=11750 |title="The Arlington Woodlands: Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial" marker |publisher=The Historical Marker Database |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 12 December 2012, the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] asked for comments on a draft environmental assessment that described a further expansion of Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Millennium Project.<ref name="EA2">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223221035/http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices/tabid/3060/Article/7037/nao-121207-millennium.aspx |archive-date=February 23, 2013 |url=https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Article/488967/nao-121207-millennium/ |title=Public Notice: NAO-121207-Millennium: Environmental assessment for expansion of Arlington National Cemetery, known as the Millennium Project |date=December 7, 2012 |work=Norfolk District Media & Public Affairs |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers |access-date=December 24, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://arlingtonmercury.org/countywide/cemetery-plan/ |title=Cemetery Plan Would Remove Old Growth Trees |last=Standifer |first=Cid |date=December 20, 2012 |publisher=Arlington Mercury |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150733/http://arlingtonmercury.org/countywide/cemetery-plan/ |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2013 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-cemetery-expansion-threatens-890-trees/article/2516666 |title=Arlington cemetery expansion threatens 890 trees |last=Holland |first=Taylor |date=December 21, 2012 |magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928095200/http://washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-cemetery-expansion-threatens-890-trees/article/2516666 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2012 draft environmental assessment was intended to implement conversion into burial space of the {{convert|17|acre|ha}} of Fort Myer grounds and {{convert|10|acre|ha}} of Section 29 woodland. The draft described seven alternatives. The preferred alternative (Alternative E) called for the removal of about one-half of the 1,700 trees with a diameter of {{convert|6|in|cm}} or greater on the site. About 640 of the trees were within a 135-year-old portion of Arlington Woods.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Environmental Assessment|2012|pp=12, 35, 40, 53–59, 78, 97}} The draft concluded, "Based on the evaluation of environmental impacts....., no significant impacts would be expected from the Proposed Action; therefore, an [[Environmental impact statement|Environmental Impact Statement]] will not be prepared and a [[Environmental impact statement#NEPA process|Finding of No Significant Impact]] will be prepared and signed."{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Environmental Assessment|2012|pp=12, 35, 40, 53–59, 78, 97}}

In January 2013, the county manager of Arlington County, Virginia, and the executive director of the Army National Military Cemeteries (consisting of Arlington National Cemetery and the [[United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery]])<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title10/pdf/USCODE-2012-title10-subtitleB-partIV-chap446.pdf|title=Title 10: Subtitle B: Part IV: Chapter 446{{snd}}Army National Military Cemeteries|journal=[[United States Code]]|edition=2012|pages=2011–2012|location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]]|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=July 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719204946/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title10/pdf/USCODE-2012-title10-subtitleB-partIV-chap446.pdf|archive-date=July 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] (MOU) between the [[Arlington County, Virginia#Government and politics|Arlington County Board]] and the Department of the Army to expand the cemetery even further. Under the tentative plan, Arlington County would give up the [[easement]] for Southgate Road (which lies between the Navy Annex property and the cemetery's 2012 boundary), and obtain a narrow easement along the southwest border of the Navy Annex site for a new Southgate Road. In exchange, the Department of Defense would give the Navy Annex parking lot to the county.

The Army would also transfer land west of South Joyce Street to [[Virginia State Route 244|Columbia Pike]] to Arlington County. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Virginia would convey to the cemetery roughly the northern half of the [[Virginia Department of Transportation]] land bounded by South Joyce Street, Columbia Pike, and South [[Washington Boulevard (Arlington)|Washington Boulevard]]. The [[cloverleaf interchange]] between Columbia Pike and S. Washington Blvd. would be eliminated, and the [[hairpin turn]] in Columbia Pike straightened, to provide a safer, more natural exit from S. Washington Blvd. onto Columbia Pike. Although exact acreages were not specified and the plan depended upon the Commonwealth of Virginia's cooperation, the MOU if implemented would have created a more contiguous plot of land for the cemetery.<ref>(1) {{cite web|first1=Barbara M. |last1=Donnellen |first2=Kathryn A. |last2=Condon |url=https://arlingtonva.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2015/08/Arlington_County_and_ANC_MOU-Signed.pdf|title=Memorandum of Understanding Between Department of the Army and County Board of Arlington County, Virginia |publisher=Arlington County government|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=July 19, 2017|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719205544/https://arlingtonva.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2015/08/Arlington_County_and_ANC_MOU-Signed.pdf|archive-date=July 19, 2017}}<br />(2) {{cite web |url=http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/county-reaches-agreement-with-army-over-arlington-natl-cemetery-expansion/|title=County Reaches Agreement With Army Over Arlington Nat'l Cemetery Expansion|work=ARLnow.com|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718210221/http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/county-reaches-agreement-with-army-over-arlington-natl-cemetery-expansion/ |archive-date=July 18, 2017}}</ref>

On 12 March 2013, the Corps of Engineers released a revised environmental assessment for the Millennium Project.<ref name="corps">{{cite web |title=Millennium Project Revised Environmental Assessment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315040110/http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices/tabid/3060/Article/11394/millennium-project-revised-environmental-assessment.aspx |archive-date=March 15, 2013 |url=https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Article/488989/millennium-project-revised-environmental-assessment/ |date=March 12, 2013 |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District |location=Norfolk, Virginia |access-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>(1) {{cite magazine |last=Holland |first=Taylor |date=March 14, 2013 |title=Arlington Cemetery would spare just 8 of nearly 900 trees in expansion |location=Washington, D.C. |magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]] |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-cemetery-would-spare-just-8-of-nearly-900-trees-in-expansion |access-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608164522/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-cemetery-would-spare-just-8-of-nearly-900-trees-in-expansion |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |url-status=live }}<br />(2) {{cite news |last=Svrluga |first=Susan |title=Arlington National Cemetery plans expansion to take it into 2050s |department=Local |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604225618/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-national-cemetery-plans-expansions/2013/05/04/74cf3494-a37f-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html |archive-date=June 4, 2015 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-national-cemetery-plans-expansions/2013/05/04/74cf3494-a37f-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html |access-date=July 18, 2013 }}</ref>

The revised environmental assessment included copies of a number of public comments on the draft that criticized the project and parts of the assessment while proposing alternative locations for new military burials near the cemetery and elsewhere.{{sfnp|Appendix F: Comments to Draft Millennium EA|2013}} However, the Department of Forestry of the Commonwealth of Virginia found that, based on information in the draft environmental assessment, the project would not have a significant adverse impact on the Commonwealth's forest resources.<ref>{{harvc |last=Irons|first=Elie L. |c=Letter to Ms. Susan L. Conner, RE: Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project: Federal Consistency Determination (DEQ-12-203F) and Environmental Assessment (DEQ-12-225F) Date: January 10, 2013 (6. Forest Resources, p. 15) |year=2013 |in=Appendix F: Comments to Draft Millennium EA |page=259}}</ref> The revised EA did not change the preferred alternative (Alternative E) or the Army's plans to prepare and sign the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that the draft EA had described.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Environmental Assessment|2013|loc="Impacts to Trees"|pp=43–45, 147}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/docs/Arlington/Millennium_draftFONSI_march8.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929013453/http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/docs/Arlington/Millennium_draftFONSI_march8.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |title=Draft Finding of No Significant Impact Millennium Project, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia |work=Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project |date=March 8, 2013 |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District |location=Norfolk, Virginia |access-date=April 10, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 March 2013, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 ([[Act of Congress|Public Law]] 113–6) appropriated to the DoD $84 million to plan, design and construct the Millennium Project.<ref name=appropriation1>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ6/pdf/PLAW-113publ6.pdf|work=Public Law 113-6: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (127 Stat. 198)|title=Division E{{snd}}Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013: Title III: Related Agencies: Department of Defense{{snd}}Civil: Cemeterial Expenses, Army: Construction|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]]|date=March 26, 2013|access-date=July 18, 2013|page=127 Stat. 409|quote=For necessary expenses for planning and design and construction at Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, $103,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017, of which, $84,000,000 shall be for planning and design and construction associated with the Millennium Project at Arlington National Cemetery; and $19,000,000 shall be for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services for future expansion of burial space at Arlington National Cemetery.|archive-date=August 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822045955/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ6/pdf/PLAW-113publ6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The legislation additionally appropriated to the DoD $19 million to study, plan and design a future expansion of the cemetery's burial space.<ref name=appropriation1/>

On 5 June 2013, after reviewing 100 public comments that it had received on the revised environmental assessment, the Corps of Engineers released a final EA and a signed FONSI for the Millennium Project.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013}}<ref name="finalEA">{{cite web |last=Federoff |first=David |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929013447/http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/siteimages/milcon/Arlington/MillenniumSignedFONSI_5_June.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |url=https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/siteimages/milcon/Arlington/MillenniumSignedFONSI_5_June.pdf |title=Finding of No Significant Impact Millennium Project, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia |work=Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project |date=June 5, 2013 |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District |location=Norfolk, Virginia |access-date=July 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc=[http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/siteimages/milcon/Arlington/MillenniumEAJune2013AppendixJCommentsonRevisedEA.pdf Appendix J: Comments on Revised Millennium EA: Public Comment Period March 12, 2013, to April 12, 2013]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan |first=Patricia |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130718173918/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/army-corps-says-go-ahead-with-arlington-cemetery-expansion/2013/06/11/2ba28d7e-d1d4-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html |archive-date=July 18, 2013 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/army-corps-says-go-ahead-with-arlington-cemetery-expansion/2013/06/11/2ba28d7e-d1d4-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html |title=Army Corps says go ahead with Arlington cemetery expansion |department=Local |date=June 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=July 18, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Final EA and the FONSI retained Alternative E as the preferred alternative.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013}}<ref name="finalEA" /> The final environmental assessment stated that, of the 905 trees to be removed, 771 trees were healthy native trees that had diameters between six and 41 inches.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc="Impacts to Trees"|pp=114–115}}<ref>{{harvnb|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|page=13: Tree Tag #1026 (Black Cherry, ''Prunus serotina'') |loc=[https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/siteimages/milcon/Arlington/MillenniumEAJune2013AppendixITreeInventoryandAnalysis.pdf Appendix I (Tree Inventory and Analysis)]}}</ref>

The project involved removing approximately 211 trees from a less than {{convert|2.63|acre|ha}} area containing a portion of a 145-year-old forest that stood within the property boundaries of a historic district that a [[National Register of Historic Places]] nomination form for Arlington House had described in 1966.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc="Impacts to Trees"|pp=114–115}}{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc=Figure A: Millennium Project with Tree Ages and NPS Property|p=4}}{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc=Figure 38: Existing conditions, impacts, and contributing areas of Arlington House: Historic Landscape Effects: ANC Boundary Wall and Arlington House Forest|p=133}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seagraves |first1=Anna |last2=Fuqua |first2=Ann |last3=Veloz |first3=Nicholas |others=[[George Washington Memorial Parkway]], National Capital Region, [[National Park Service]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928080102/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Arlington/000-0001_Arlington_House_1966_Final_Nomination.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Arlington/000-0001_Arlington_House_1966_Final_Nomination.pdf |title=Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial |work=United States Department of the Interior: National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places – Nomination Form for Federal Properties |publisher=[[Virginia Department of Historic Resources]] |location=[[Richmond, Virginia]] |page=8 |date=January 15, 1980 |access-date=July 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> About 491 trees would be removed from an area of trees that was approximately 105 years old.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc="Impacts to Trees"|pp=114–115}} Approximately 203 trees with ages of 50 to 145 years would be removed from a former picnic area.{{sfnp|Arlington National Cemetery Millennium Project Final Environmental Assessment|2013|loc="Impacts to Trees"|pp=114–115}} At a public hearing on 11 July 2013, the National Capital Planning Commission approved the site and building plans for the Millennium Project.<ref>(1) {{cite web |last=Young |first=Deborah B. |date=11 July 2013 |title=Commission Action: Millennium Project, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA (NCPC File Number 7457) |url=http://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Actions_Recommendations/2013July/Arlington_National_Cemetery_Millennium_Action_7457_July2013_.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6IASZK5ZT?url=http://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Actions_Recommendations/2013July/Arlington_National_Cemetery_Millennium_Action_7457_July2013_.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013 |publisher=National Capital Planning Commission |location=Washington, D.C.}}<br />(2) {{cite web |date=11 July 2013 |title=Executive Director's Recommendation: Commission Meeting: July 11, 2013: Millennium Project, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA (NCPC File Number 7457) |url=http://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Actions_Recommendations/2013July/Arlington_National_Cemetery_Millennium_Project_Recommendation_7457_July2013_.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6IATHmqU3?url=http://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Actions_Recommendations/2013July/Arlington_National_Cemetery_Millennium_Project_Recommendation_7457_July2013_.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013 |publisher=National Capital Planning Commission |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

In August 2015, the U.S. Army removed Lechner as superintendent of the cemetery after a performance review "called into question his ability to serve successfully as a senior leader". The Army declined to elaborate further and appointed Hallinan to be the temporary Cemetery superintendent until the Army could find a successor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=21 August 2015 |title=Arlington National Cemetery superintendent removed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-national-cemetery-superintendent-removed/2015/08/21/661baa32-4831-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822154354/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-national-cemetery-superintendent-removed/2015/08/21/661baa32-4831-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html |archive-date=22 August 2015 |access-date=21 July 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |department=Local}}</ref>
In December 2016, the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017]] (Public Law 114–328) authorized the Secretary of the Army to expand the cemetery by acquiring from Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia by [[Eminent domain in the United States|condemnation]] and other means properties near the cemetery that contain the Southgate Road, South Joyce Street and Washington Boulevard right-of-ways, including the Washington Boulevard-Columbia Pike interchange.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-114publ328/pdf/PLAW-114publ328.pdf|title=Division B: Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017: Title XXVIII{{snd}}Military Construction General Provisions: Subtitle C{{snd}}Land Conveyances: Sec. 2829A. Land Acquisitions, Arlington County, Virginia|work=Public Law 114-328: [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017]]|pages=130 Stat. 2728–130 Stat. 2730|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]]|access-date=July 18, 2017|quote=Sec. 2829A. Land Acquisitions, Arlington County, Virginia. (a) Acquisition Authorized.&nbsp;(1) In General.&nbsp;The Secretary of the Army may acquire by purchase, exchange, donation, or by other means, including condemnation, which the Secretary determines is sufficient for the expansion of Arlington National Cemetery for purposes of ensuring maximization of interment sites and compatible use of adjacent properties, including any appropriate cemetery or memorial parking, all right, title, and interest in and to land <br />(A) from Arlington County (in this section referred to as the "County"), one or more parcels of real property in the area known as the Southgate Road right-of-way, Columbia Pike right-of-way, and South Joyce Street right-of-way located in Arlington County, Virginia; and<br />(B) from the Commonwealth of Virginia (in this section referred to as the "Commonwealth"), one or more parcels of property in the area known as the Columbia Pike right-of-way, including the Washington Boulevard-Columbia Pike interchange, but excluding the Virginia Department of Transportation Maintenance and Operations Facility. ....|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719210503/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-114publ328/pdf/PLAW-114publ328.pdf|archive-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> The Army then informed the Arlington County government in June 2017 that the Army would no longer pursue a [[land exchange]] with the county. The Army told the County that the Army would use the entire Navy Annex site to expand the cemetery and would acquire for the cemetery about {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of public land that Arlington County then owned. The Army would also acquire for the cemetery expansion about {{convert|7|acre|ha}} of land located between Columbia Pike and [[Interstate 395 (Virginia–District of Columbia)|Interstate 395]] that the Commonwealth of Virginia then owned.<ref>(1) {{cite web|url=https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/army-opts-out-of-land-exchange-with-arlington-county/|title=Army Opts Out of Land Exchange with Arlington County|work=News Release|publisher=Arlington County, Virginia, government|date=June 15, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719205738/https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/army-opts-out-of-land-exchange-with-arlington-county/|archive-date=July 19, 2017}} <br />(2) {{cite web |url=https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/arlington-cemetery-southern-expansion/|title=Arlington Cemetery Southern Expansion and Roadway Realignment Project|work=Projects & Planning|publisher=Arlington County government |access-date=July 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719210917/https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/arlington-cemetery-southern-expansion/|archive-date=July 19, 2017}} <br />(3) {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/army-county-break-off-land-swap-talks-over-arlington-cemetery-expansion/2017/06/16/20e8372c-52a8-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html|title=Army, county break off land swap talks over Arlington Cemetery expansion|department=Virginia|first=Patricia |last=Sullivan|date=June 16, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719205935/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/army-county-break-off-land-swap-talks-over-arlington-cemetery-expansion/2017/06/16/20e8372c-52a8-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html|archive-date=July 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced the expansion would allow for 40,000 to 60,000 additional burials and will incorporate the existing [[United States Air Force Memorial]]. Construction of roadways is planned for 2021–2023 and of the actual cemetery 2023–2025. Total cost of the project is $274 million.<ref>{{cite news|work=Engineering News Record|page=78|title=Pulse Project News/Planning/Virginia|date=Nov 5–12, 2018}}</ref> The project covers {{convert|70|acres}} and by closing and relocating local roadways, allows the cemetery to utilize the former Navy annex property and remain contiguous. The Columbia Pike and interchange will be realigned to maximize burial space. The existing Operations Complex will also be relocated south of the Columbia Pike and its current location will become burial space. The expansion is projected to keep the cemetery open into the middle of the century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Military-Construction/ANCSouthernExpansion/|title=Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion Project and Associated Roadway Realignment|work=Norfolk District |access-date=November 17, 2018|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118035322/https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Military-Construction/ANCSouthernExpansion/|url-status=dead}}</ref>